Great Western Coffee Shop

Am travelling Eurostar to Paris and back over Easter (well 31/3 to 7/4) which is my bad luck.

But at least I'm first class on an ICE from Paris to Saarbrucken.

Going to http://www.dampfspektakel.info/ (http://www.dampfspektakel.info/). If any of you are going, message me you never know we might meet somewhere along the line.

Looking up trains from Maidenhead and/or Taplow National Rail website quotes no fares available.

I understand that there is at least a London international Return from Maidenhead, not sure about Taplow.

Any ideas?

NFM 05 shows Taplow to London Intl (CIV) as ^11.90 STD single and ^24.10 STD return, quite why the return is more expensive than two singles I can't fathom!

First Class the fares are ^17.70 single and ^35.40 return.

If you're purchasing from Taplow ticket office then it may help the clerk if you tell him/her that the 3 letter code for London Intl (CIV) is LNE. You also should show proof of your European travel as well.

The ticket type for the return is "EURO HIGH SVR R" whilst the single is "EURO STD SINGLE".  I'm not entirely sure what the HIGH part has to do with anything - other than "higher than two singles".

Does anyone know what this fare is?

Interestingly ATOC is dis-continuing CIV tickets!

Any link to that info D_M?

http://www.railforums.co.uk/showpost.php?p=407158&postcount=1

Later in that same thread the OP says that at the London Travelwatch meeting where the withdrawal of CIV tickets was going to be discussed, a representative from ATOC said "ATOC has not withdrawn CIV tickets".

The "CIV" discussion topic at the London Travelwatch meeting was actually deferred until 27th April.

The OP also states that he hasn't been able to find any corroborating evidence to show that CIV tickets are to be withdrawn.

Let's wait and see before we say "ATOC is discontinuing them" .......

I'm sure ATOC woudl love to get rid of them

Important point is that the CIV fares are only avialble if you have your international ticket.  You will need to show that at Taplow.  This can create problems if you are collecting tickets at SPI.  You can show an online booking print-out but it will not always be accepted. 

UPDATE - if you have problems buying CIV tickets at Taplow, try Eurostar on 01233 617913, and they will post the CIV tickets out to you. 

Hi All,

I am travelling to Brussels in May have booked Eurostar allready could not wait to get a combined ticket from FGW booking windows for cheaper tickets are different.

Think I know the advatages of CIV but how do you book them are they on FGW site as St Pancras International.

By the way Eight48544 that looks like a great trip wish I was going

Basset

Read Tim's post above - it tells you exactly what you need to know.

London International CIV tickets are available from station ticket offices on production of your Eurostar travel documents - ideally the actual tickets but if you are collecting them at SPI then the booking confirmation should suffice.

Oops,

I did, what I was trying to ask for online bookings is it London St Pancras (STP)

or cant you book these tickets online?

Basset

Type LNE as your destination - should show tickets to London International

Thanks, Brucey

That seems to work fine shame I did not check this out sooner looks great value return from Cardiff even travelling in peak times except coming back out of London for ^82 showing single up but not back whatever date I put in. Too early for May yet

Basset

CIV tickets allow you to travel at peak times (if your Eurostar requires you to) at off-peak prices. For this reason, they shouldn't be discontinued.

I suspect someone got the wrong end of the stick....

I read somewhere else that the problem is just that a limited number of CIV tickets had been accidentally withdrawn, and needed reintroducing into the NFM, and it is already fixed.

Paul

The other major advantage, as I am sure many people here already know, is that being covered by the CIV conditions means that if a connection is missed in either direction due to a rail delay, the train company concerned has to let you on the next train which has available space at no additional charge.

Hi All,

Is arriving in Paddington at 12.00 allowing enough time for Eurostar at 14.40, I will be  buying the International tickets and I just wonder if there is a set time you must allow?

Basset

I think it's 30 minute check-in, so you'll need to be at St P by 1410.

Two hours? Plenty of time!

Assuming there are no engineering works on the LU the day you're travelling, then the circle line will get you there in with plenty of time as ChrisB stated.

Though if you have any female company with you it may not be enough time as I found both my mother and sister spent ages looking at the shops in St P last time I was there  :P

And don't forget for the Circle Line clockwise from Paddington you need to use the Bishops Road Underground platforms and not Praed Street. Or change at Edgware Road.

If you have lots of luggage it may be better to use the Praed St platforms, as apart from a short escalator it's step free, and the change at Edgware Road is easy. Wouldn't fancy trying to lug large cases up the steps and then back down onto the old H&C platforms. 

Pread Street platforms and a change at Edgware Road are Ok if you can gurentee cross platform interchange at Edgware road but you could land on the inner platform and have to lug your cases over the bridge.


If you do land on the inner platform you could always go back to Padd 15 and do a cross platform interchange

With 2 hours you could also try the 205 bus Pread Street top of the road and turn left stops just along.

Thanks for info on London International Fares from Taplow. In fact they seem to be the same as U1 singles.
 

Thus I'm  buying a Taplow to U1 anytime single for outward journey on 06:32 for ^11:90 and another for U1 to Taplow for ^7.95 anytime single with Senior Railcard for return journey (after 09:30).

Presummably they are a better bet further from London especialy with their CIV terms allowing you to travel on the first possible train if your Eurostar is late and you miss your booked connection.

Been looking up trains to from Taplow to SPX for Wednesday to get there by 0815.

Interesting only one through train (stopper) given at 06:57 change at Padd.

Of the 4 other shown 2 are change at Slough and 2 change at Maidenhead!

However, the really puzzling thing is I'm quoted ^11.60 anytime single on two trains and ^12.50 on the other three.

Even more odd is that the cheaper fare applies to the two via Maidenhead (going away from London) whilst the direct stopper and the change at Slough are ^12.50. 

With the cheap fare would I be able to get a different train from Maidenhead i.e the 07:18 rather than the 7:08 given in the listing.

To add to the confusion I've looked up Maidenhead to SPX and get a fare of ^13.80 for all trains!

Even more confusion if I do Taplow to KX or St Pancras (Domestic) I get the ^11.60 fare via Maidenhead and an ^11.50 fare direct or change at Slough

No railcard discount to complicate things because it's weekday peak.

Any possible rational explanation?

The final piece of the jigsaw.

Just popped down to Taplow and bought my tickets.

Given two differrent ticket types, but both at the same price.

One for peak outward on 31/3 and one off peak for 7/4 (I taking a chance ther might be train to Taplow between the walkouts.

So how much did I pay, what were the ticket types and was holding a senior railcard relevant?

I did think of putting this in the lighter side but think it fits Fare's Fair better.